First water cooling build

[Un3n]

So since my current rig is getting old (amd phenom 1, ati 4870, 3gb ram) I've decided to get a new computer and finally take the plunge into water cooling. Let me first describe what I will use this PC for an what I expect out of it. I will mostly use this computer for software dev (private projects and homework projects) on both linux and windows, aswell as casual gamming (mostly mmo's and RTS') and the occasional private server hosting for friends. What I want out of this computer is to preform exceptionally fast and last me a long time (~4 years or more) with proper care and maintnance without needing to be upgraded. Now I realize 2-3 years down the road this rig wont be top of the line or out preform newer hardware, but you get what I'm saying I just want it to be fast and work which is something my current rig doesnt do very well lol.

The main part I need advice on is the watercooling section, because although ive spent hours and hours reading up on which parts are best, I dont have any actuall experience with water cooling.

Core components:

Case: Bitfenix shinobi xl

cpu: i7 3930k (over clocked to around 4.2-4.6 depending on temps)

Motherboard: ASRock x79 extreme9

PSU: corsair ax850

SSD 1: corsair force3 60gb (windows OS)

HD 1: Western Digital Caviar green 2TB (windows programs/games/storage)

HD 2: Current Rig's Western Digital HD 500gb (linux os and programs)

RAM: Mushkin 16gb ddr3 1600 blackline

Hotswap bay: icy dock MB971SP-b duo

Graphics card: re-using current 4870, planning to upgrade to 1 or 2 7950's in the future.

Water cooling components:

Rad: swiftech mcr320 xp (I plan on adding a sinlge 120 or 140 later on if I add water cooled graphics card(s))

CPU block: Swiftech apogee hd

Fans: gentle typhoon 1850

pump: Swiftech MCP655-B

Reservoir: ?? not sure yet

Tubing primochill white 1/2x3/4

Fittings: w/e come with the parts (all should be 1/2 id )

Along with Ptnuke/distilled water and misc 6mm screws.

So other than general what do you think questions. Does anyone have any experience hiding a bay reservoir? They seem to be my best options but I dont want it to be seen from the outside of my case. I think the psu is big enough and the WC loop will cool my cpu well enough, but will everything be sufficient if I were to add 1 or two water cooled 7950's? Also how much tubing would you recomend I buy?

Thank you very much in advance!!

 

[Pr3d4t0r]

As I said in my own build, those two 7950's will be pushing the limits of the AX850. It will be fine for now, but if you plan to run dual 7950's later, you should get a bigger PSU. Also, if you are watercooling the GPU's, I recommend overclocking them, which definitely needs more power. That mobo also needs dual 8 pins, which gives even more of a reason for a bigger PSU.

And if you decide to watercool your GPU's, you definitely wanna add a 240, not a 120. Single fan rads are useless.

Just my 2 cents.

I agree but it doesnt "require" you could probably run it off single 8 pin or even a 6pin, extra pins(power is for stability, volts etcetc.)

 

[Murphyslaw]

I agree but it doesnt "require" you could probably run it off single 8 pin or even a 6pin, extra pins(power is for stability, volts etcetc.)

:/ If you can afford it, headroom is a good thing.

you need more then 6pin or a single 8pin to overclock on it. in which if his spending money on the cooling, I am sure he will probably overclock.

and the extra pins will offer extra current. nothing to do with extra voltage.

 

[Un3n]

Thanks for the advice guys, I take it that im not missing anything major in my list. Thats a good point about my PSU, the most likely situation will be me upgrading to a single 7950 or in general a better card in the future (probably early next year) since I dont need top of the line quad cross fire graphics I can afford to stay a series or two behind and save money. Ill do some shoping around see if I can find another good PSU with more wats that isnt much more expensive (close to my budget cap atm).

 

[Murphyslaw]

Thanks for the advice guys, I take it that im not missing anything major in my list. Thats a good point about my PSU, the most likely situation will be me upgrading to a single 7950 or in general a better card in the future (probably early next year) since I dont need top of the line quad cross fire graphics I can afford to stay a series or two behind and save money. Ill do some shoping around see if I can find another good PSU with more wats that isnt much more expensive (close to my budget cap atm).

yea might be a good idea to look at a better PSU, and in the way of wanting to try and water cool 2 of them... you might need 2 big rads 2*360mm, by the look of the case choice you should have room.

So other than general what do you think questions. Does anyone have any experience hiding a bay reservoir? They seem to be my best options but I dont want it to be seen from the outside of my case. I think the psu is big enough and the WC loop will cool my cpu well enough, but will everything be sufficient if I were to add 1 or two water cooled 7950's? Also how much tubing would you recomend I buy?

Saying about wanting to hide the reservoir, I would possibly go with a none bay reservoir, something like the EK-multioption and hide it somewhere.

The amount of tubing you should be able to work out, by a basic sketch. work out where you want the watercooling parts draw in lines to where you want them and then try and work out a distance that works for it.

Another good tip, buy more tubing then you think you will need (extra metre over what you worked out atleast). It's pointless to try and make do with less, it won't work.

 

[Un3n]

Well, If it's a bay res, then it can be seen through a window. However, the Shinobi XL doesn't have a window that I know of... You could just drill a new set of mounting holes, slightly back from the original. You would be able to keep the bay cover on.

You can get the shinobi xl with or with out the window (im getting the windowless one), and thats what im thinking ill end up doing with a single bay res.

 

[I Hunta x]

WOAH WOAH WOAH WOAH WOAH, 2x 7950 would be a struggle for an AX850? WTF has everyone been smoking.

A 3960k with 16gb of 1866 and 2x 7970 with 925 Core and 1375 Mem only uses around 650w at the VERY max in furmark, in gaming its down around around the 500w mark total.

I dont think a WC system is going to use anywhere near 200w either....

JUST the gpu PEAK power use (furmark), 7950 = 140w~, 7970 = 200w~, gtx580 = 240w~, 2x 7950 = 290w~, 2x 7970 = 400w~, 3x 7950 = 410w~ and finaly a MARS 2 = 430w~

EDIT: also 2x 8pin mobo power is 100% not needed on any single cpu motherboard unless your pushing 6ghz on sub zero, ive gone up and past 4.5ghz with 1x mobo power only as i was getting issues with both 8pin mobo power plugged in.